The Energon Pub

When trying to transform Bumblebee back to alt mode, the front end won't stay connected. It is as if there is a spring loaded part that keeps popping it open. Am I doing something wrong?

I can't believe I transformed my MP Megatron back and forth without looking at the instructions the first few times yet I am having problems with this. I'm thinking there is a defect but am curious if others have had this problem too.



UPDATE
I found the problem. There is a thin and fragile plastic tab holding the front end together. When you push the button on the hood, it releases the front end. It also locks the front end into place in alt mode. If this little piece breaks you are left with a car that will never fit together again.

I have noticed that the movie line deluxes I have seemed to be made a a lower grade of plastic compared to previous lines. It feels like the same quality plastic used on the legends of cybertron mini figures. Thin and brittle.

This is too bad, really. I like the figure but I only transformed it once and it breaks! Be careful with yours. Maybe I just got a defective one, who knows. I will be exchanging it for a non-defective one regardless. That's the one nice thing about buying from WalMart.

This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

Valandar wrote:This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

You can see that part in the package.

JTKranix wrote:

Valandar wrote:This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

You can see that part in the package.

Anyone have images of what to look for in package?

JTKranix wrote:

Valandar wrote:This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

You can see that part in the package.

Unless you have x-ray vision, or the part is already broken and floating around the package, I don't see how this is possible. Please explain!

Maybe I should just wait until the next wave to exchange this figure.

Lapse Of Reason wrote:

JTKranix wrote:

Valandar wrote:This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

You can see that part in the package.

Unless you have x-ray vision, or the part is already broken and floating around the package, I don't see how this is possible. Please explain!

Maybe I should just wait until the next wave to exchange this figure.

It's a minor mold change on the "good" version. You can tell by looking though the package at the bottom front of Bumblebee.

You can see the section in question here:

I ordered BB from HTS last week. In the pic above, what am I looking for to see if I have a good B or a bad B?

I'm not sure which piece you think it is, but if you mean the little yellow piece at top, that part is still intact on mine. Mine broke on the bottom, exactly where is not visible in the image you provided. In your pic, the part that broke would be tucked into the undercarriage of the car. Check out this pic.

JTKranix wrote:

Lapse Of Reason wrote:

JTKranix wrote:

Valandar wrote:This is a known issue.

It's also known that there are two versions of this mold out, one with a proper tab there, and one with a 'double-thick' tab that breaks off the piece you circled above.

No word, I don't think, on if you can identify the two different molds in-package.

You can see that part in the package.

Unless you have x-ray vision, or the part is already broken and floating around the package, I don't see how this is possible. Please explain!

Maybe I should just wait until the next wave to exchange this figure.

It's a minor mold change on the "good" version. You can tell by looking though the package at the bottom front of Bumblebee.

You can see the section in question here:

SnapTrap wrote:I ordered BB from HTS last week. In the pic above, what am I looking for to see if I have a good B or a bad B?

You can't tell from thatpicture See my post above.

Pics here:
http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.ph ... 29613&st=0

You can see it in pack.

I wasn't saying that you could see it in the picture I pulled from the gallary. I was saying you could see the area in question though the package.

I said in the previous posts I had nothing to compare it to because I couldn't remember where I read about it.

EDIT: I guess you can see it in the pictures from the gallary

Wow, this is the third instance I've heard of this happening. You know what the problem was in each instance?

NO ONE USED THE FRIGGIN' INSTRUCTIONS!

They're given to you for a reason. You follow them directly in all the steps, IN ORDER, and you'll be fine.

Why people have to pioneer and screw around and then break their stuff and take it back to the store (which will then turn around and sell it to some poor, unsuspecting customer) is beyond my comprehension.

This isn't G1 where you could look at the figure and figure out how it works simplistically. It doesn't work like that at all, anymore. These are rather intricate and fragile pieces that can't just be toss around and guessed at.

A lot of hard work went into these things, so people could enjoy them...not break them because their stupid pride got in the way.

Ridiculous, and it makes me SICK.

I've had TFs break on me before (it happens), however...they've never broken due to a bad transformation sequence. I've always followed the directions down to the last letter, and it's never failed me yet.

Instructions also let you know if there's any odd little gimmicks you might be missing, or an important locking mechanism, etc. It's always good to follow the directions.

It really irks me that some people just do what they want and ruin something perfectly good because they think they know everything.

And to pull the guessing game sh*t with Masterpiece Megatron? Ludicrous. He breaks on his own with instructions, transforming him without them is playing collector's Russian Roulette.

Must be nice to be able to throw money in the fire "just because".

ARGH! /end rant.


NOTE: I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't care. I'm sick and tired of hearing people yell about this figure breaking, yet it's their own fault because they screw around, then they come to us, whining. READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR!

Autobot032 wrote: It really irks me that some people just do what they want and ruin something perfectly good because they think they know everything.

And to pull the guessing game sh*t with Masterpiece Megatron? Ludicrous. He breaks on his own with instructions, transforming him without them is playing collector's Russian Roulette.

Must be nice to be able to throw money in the fire "just because".

ARGH! /end rant.


NOTE: I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't care. I'm sick and tired of hearing people yell about this figure breaking, yet it's their own fault because they screw around, then they come to us, whining. READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR!

Not going to get flamed by me. I totally agree. People are do this kind of stuff are F*$# wits. Just read the damn instructions! I even enjoy reading instructions (when they are actually in english). Why does not using them give you a greater sense of Transformers pride?

"Oh, um, well, I Transformed him in like totally only 20 minutes, without instuructions, which means I am more a hardcore fan than you. Ha"

I have said it before, i'll say it again, people who say they Transformed Masterpiece Megatron the 1st time, without instructions, are just full of pure crap. A large amount of his joints are pretty god damn stiff, and If I didn't have the instructions, I would have thought they wouldn't been able to move. Sure, some bits easy to transform, but others were very difficult and stiff. His transformation is the most complex of any transformer I know of, and some of those transformation sequences, are pretty hard the 1st time.

In closing, I agree with Autobot032, in saying, just get over it, and use the instructions. I hope to god that those who break their transformers due to ignorance, don't get them refunded. Companys have already payed kids to try and break these things. I am sure they don't have time for every idiot adult that breaks a childs toy to refund it.

(Time for me to get flammed.)

some people (like me) enjoy transforming a TF for the first time blind, feels like your discovering it by your self. Its, for the lack of a better word, more intimate.

So – I’m confused!


Is this “problem”…

A) Actually a design fault? Or

B) Is it simply caused by individuals not using the instructions?


Can someone give a definite answer either way?

I saw a whole bunch of Bumblebees today, and WAS considering buying one… but only if it’s NOT going to break after 5 minutes!!!

Robzimus Prime wrote:So – I’m confused!


Is this “problem”…

A) Actually a design fault? Or

B) Is it simply caused by individuals not using the instructions?


Can someone give a definite answer either way?

I saw a whole bunch of Bumblebees today, and WAS considering buying one… but only if it’s NOT going to break after 5 minutes!!!

It is a design flaw that has been corrected, though figures with the flaw are still going to be found a retail.

Also to those people saying these are fragile pieces that you have to be carefully with. Unlike MPs, Alts, or any other collector line these are specifically toys for kids. Which means if they are that fragile, and break that easily then Hasbro **** up. For a key part of the figure like that locking tab to be so fragile indicates a design flaw, which Hasbro recognized and apparently fixed. Following instructions has nothing to do with this problem, bad QC does.

tentagil wrote:

Robzimus Prime wrote:So – I’m confused!


Is this “problem”…

A) Actually a design fault? Or

B) Is it simply caused by individuals not using the instructions?


Can someone give a definite answer either way?

I saw a whole bunch of Bumblebees today, and WAS considering buying one… but only if it’s NOT going to break after 5 minutes!!!

It is a design flaw that has been corrected, though figures with the flaw are still going to be found a retail.

Thanks!

Autobot032 wrote:

NOTE: I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't care. I'm sick and tired of hearing people yell about this figure breaking, yet it's their own fault because they screw around, then they come to us, whining. READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR!

You would deserve to get flamed for it too. I did follow the instructions. I never said I didn't. You know what, I TRANSFORMED IT ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PIECE OF CRAP BROKE. There. This is the only Transformer I have ever had break on me (where it wasn't supposed to). So before you post something like you did you should get your facts straight dude.

I'm not coming to you whining about anything. I really could care less what you think now. I only was trying to help others who might experience the same problem and it appears many people have.

I hope yours breaks so you'll realize how pointless your post about following instructions is with this figure.

Autobot032 wrote:Wow, this is the third instance I've heard of this happening. You know what the problem was in each instance?

NO ONE USED THE FRIGGIN' INSTRUCTIONS!

They're given to you for a reason. You follow them directly in all the steps, IN ORDER, and you'll be fine.

First off, CUT IT OUT WITH THE FLAMING, and second I read the instructions and I pushed down on the button with a force that no kid could excert and nothing. Like everyone else, the automorph was jammed and that meant it was defective. If the automorph is jammed, what else is there to do but pull down on the nose. Any TF that has lockable clips can be dislocated without the button without breaking things. This is a design flaw.

Robzimus Prime wrote:So – I’m confused!


Is this “problem”…

A) Actually a design fault? Or

B) Is it simply caused by individuals not using the instructions?


Can someone give a definite answer either way?

I saw a whole bunch of Bumblebees today, and WAS considering buying one… but only if it’s NOT going to break after 5 minutes!!!

It's a design flaw. The automorph gets jammed, and the only way to get the chest down is to pull it, and that causes the tab to break.

Push with both thumbs further down, it works.

megatroptimus wrote:Push with both thumbs further down, it works.

Dude.

Read, please.

There are two versions of bumblebee out there, and photographic evidence has proved it.

One variant has a thicker tab than the other, resulting in breaking the automorph function when transformed. Period. Using both thumbs further down will STILL break that particular variant.

It is NOT the fault of the people who own the toy, but rather th fault of Hasbro.

Lapse Of Reason wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

NOTE: I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't care. I'm sick and tired of hearing people yell about this figure breaking, yet it's their own fault because they screw around, then they come to us, whining. READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR!

You would deserve to get flamed for it too. I did follow the instructions. I never said I didn't. You know what, I TRANSFORMED IT ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PIECE OF CRAP BROKE. There. This is the only Transformer I have ever had break on me (where it wasn't supposed to). So before you post something like you did you should get your facts straight dude.

I'm not coming to you whining about anything. I really could care less what you think now. I only was trying to help others who might experience the same problem and it appears many people have.

I hope yours breaks so you'll realize how pointless your post about following instructions is with this figure.

Gee, thanks for the warm wishes.

And yes it is a design flaw, but when you put design flaws together with human arrogance, it leads to a big no no.

But in this case it wasn't human arrogance. So your outburst is unfounded and actually quite rude.

And back to the topic at hand. So if I decide to get this figure I want the one with the two small matching yellow tabs right?

Nightwatcher wrote:But in this case it wasn't human arrogance. So your outburst is unfounded and actually quite rude.

And back to the topic at hand. So if I decide to get this figure I want the one with the two small matching yellow tabs right?

Yes.